To George Washington from Joseph Trumbull, 9 June 1776

From Joseph Trumbull

[New York, 9 June 1776] Sunday afternoon.

May it please your Excellency: In addition to what information I gave you last Thursday,1 I am now to say, that the Congress Secret Committee, so called, are now actually shipping from this place large quantities of pork; and I fear with such an example before them, no great effect can be expected from an application to Provincial Congress to stop others; and that I really fear very bad consequences therefrom to the operations of the present campaign, and pray your Excellency to mention the matter to Congress.2

I cannot be answerable for supplying the Army with that article unless a stop is put to its being shipped out of the country.

2. Trumbull wrote to the New York provincial congress on 11 June: “I am directed by His Excellency Genl. Washington to apply to you, informing that he understands that considerable quantities of salted pork are shipping from this city and Colony to different foreign ports and places, and that he is apprehensive that the great augmentation of troops to be made here and in Canada, will require all the pork in this and the neighbouring Colonies for their subsistence this campaign, until new pork comes in, and therefore requests your interposition to put a stop to such exportations, in such manner as to you shall appear most proper to prevent the want of provisions for subsisting the troops employed in the necessary defence of our just rights and liberties” (N.Y. Prov. Congress Journals description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety, and Council of Safety of the State of New-York, 1775–1776–1777. 2 vols. Albany, 1842. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 1:489).

In response to Trumbull’s letter, the provincial congress resolved on that date “that no Salted Beef or Pork, except as much as may be necessary for the use of the Crew, be exported from this Colony in any Vessel under any pretence whatever, for the space of fourteen Days; by which Time the Continental Congress will have an Opportunity of making some general Regulations respecting the same” (DLC:GW; see also N.Y. Prov. Congress Journals description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety, and Council of Safety of the State of New-York, 1775–1776–1777. 2 vols. Albany, 1842. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends ,
1:489). This resolution was sent to Trumbull with a request that he communicate it to GW. In a covering letter of 11 June, president Nathaniel Woodhull explained to Trumbull that the provincial congress “are of Opinion that Application should be immediately made to the continental Congress in Order that a general Regulation may take place; for altho’ this Congress will always be ready to pursue such measures as may advance the common Cause, Yet the Justice due to their Constituents forbids their subjecting this Colony to partial Restraints” (DLC:GW; see also N.Y. Prov. Congress Journals description begins Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety, and Council of Safety of the State of New-York, 1775–1776–1777. 2 vols. Albany, 1842. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends , 1:489). For GW’s compliance with this request, see GW to Hancock, 13 June 1776, and for the Continental Congress’s prohibiting of the exportation of salted pork and beef, see Hancock to GW, 14–16 June 1776.

More between these correspondents

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